Harpy marks

How to clear a room at a TV critics convention: Launch a session on the 30th anniversary of PBS’ “Nature” program.

The session includes filmmaker Fergus Beeley, San Diego Zoo’s Dr. Mike Wallace (no relation to the grouchy guy on “60 Minutes,” and Cari Clements, a senior trainer at the San Diego Zoo, who is appearing with Toruk, a harpy eagle from South America. I have to say, all cynicism aside, it’s a really gorgeous creature, with a noble head and beautiful grey plumage.

One writer asked what they feed the bird [which, by the way, was named for a creature in "Avatar"].

Toruk eats mice, rodents, small animals and is especially fond of rabbits, Clements answered, and then added, “He does take a nice long look at small children sometimes.”

Wallace contributed some appetizing detail about finding harpy eagle nests in Venezuela where youngster birds were feeding on armadillo carapaces, lovingly left for them by attentive parents.

I couldn’t help thinking it was probably really smart of PBS to program Dr. Brian Greene and his “The Fabric of the Cosmos” special on “NOVA” as the day’s luncheon session instead of “Nature’s” show on the “Jungle Eagle“

Now the network is starting a panel on music from the ’60s and Monkee Davy Jones is about to come out onstage. My first thought is: Really? Another show about music in the ’60s? REALLY?

Well, that’s new, isn’t it?

By the way, this may have some archival footage in it, but the clip they just screened features Jones and Peter Noone doing their respective hits now. Now someone’s singing “Go Ask Alice,” and it ain’t Grace Slick.

Expect to see this repeated countless times on your local PBS station during pledge drive.